Clip for packaging of,for example,hair curlers



Sept. 22, 1970 P. A. o'ccNNELI. EVAL 3,529,716

CLIP FCR PACKAGING' 0F, FOR EXAMPLE, HAIR CURLERS INVENTORS PAULA A.o'coNNELl. FRANCES 1 slLeNzl TTORNE?.

United States Patent CLIP FOR PACKAGING OF, FOR EXAMPLE,

Y. HAIR CURLERS Paula A. OConnell, 206 E. 25th St., and Frances L.lilizi, 137 E. 26th St., both of New York, N.Y. Continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 656,424, July 27, 1967. This application Oct. 12,1967, Ser. No. 715,453 Int. Cl. B65d 71/00, 85 /08, 85 /6'2 U.S. Cl.206--65 8 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A package of hair curlers.The curlers are axially compressible, for example, coil springs havingsides covered with a netting. In the package the curlers are held inaxially compressed condition. The invention also provides a clip forholding the curlers.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 656,424 filedJuly 27, 1967, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hair curlers in the form of cylinders, forexample 11/2 diameter by 3" long, are in widespread use. From to 15curlers are commonly included in a set for one setting of the hair, anda problem arises by reason of the bulk of the set when traveling. Forshort trips, a small overnite bag may be ample for personal effectsother than the curlers, but commonly is of insucient size to permittaking the number of curlers desired.

The present invention has as its objective providing means for storing aset of hair curlers in a small package. l

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention particularly contemplates axiallycompressible curlers, such as the known coil springs covered withnetting. A package is formed of the curlers and means holding thecurlers in axially compressible condition.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a clip comprising anelongated member, a base member, and a top member. The base member issecured to one end 0f the elongated member and extends lengthwisetransversely of the elongated member and radially outwardly thereof. Thetop member includes means movable relative to the elongated memberbetween a iirst position permitting moving of open ended elongatedelements of diameter less than the length of the base member, coaxiallyonto the elongated member and a second position in which the top memberis disposed transversely of the elongated member and extends radiallyoutwardly thereof for locking the elongated elements on the elon- ICEDESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. l, the clipcomprises the elongated member 10, which is a generally U-shaped wire. Abase is provided by the outturned free ends .11, and a holder 12 issecured to the other end of the clip. A loop 14 is formed in thetransverse section of the U-shaped elongated member, and a complementaryloop 15 is formed in the holder 12. The loops 1=4 and 15 interengage, sothat the holder 12 is movabl'y positioned on the U-shaped elongatedmember. The holder 12 can be shifted so that hollow cylindrical articlesof diameter not greater than the width w of the U-shaped member, can bepassed over the transverse end of the U-shaped member, and positionedalong the U-shaped member between the base thereof formed by theouttnrned ends 11, and the holder 12. The diameter of the hollowcylinders is less than the length of the base member and the length ofthe holder, and upon shifting of the holder to a direction transverse tothe U-shaped elongated member y10, these cylinders are secured on theclip.

Referring to FIGS. 2-6, a box 16, which can be of any suitable material,for example metal or molded plastic, comprises end .18, to whichelongated members 20 and 21 are pivotally connected at, respectively, 24and 25. Box end 17 'has a lip 22 extending inwardly toward the pivotmountings, and terminating a short distance from end 17. The elongatedmembers 20 and 21 trace the arcs 23 upon being pivoted between a loweredand a raised position. The radius of this arc is such that the free endsof the elongated members clears the lip 22 so that the free ends can bemoved into and out of the box.

The hair curlers can be coil springs covered with netting. In FIG. 6, aportion of such a hair curler is depicted. The curler 26 includes thecoil spring 27, covered with netting 28. The netting includes inturnedends 29 which turn back over the ends of the coil, extendi axially gatedmember between the base member and the top member. The elongatedelements, e.g. hair curlers, are cylindrical coil springs, and aplurality of the curlers can be stored on the clip, in compressedcondition, with the base member and the top member holding the curlersin this condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS inwardly a short distance and thenterminate. A hair curler of the type shown in FIG. 6 is preferred.However, any axially compressible curler can be used.

Referring to FIG. 4, the hair curler 26 can be moved in the direction ofthe arrow 31 to dispose it along the elongated member 21, coaxiallytherewith. A plurality of the curlers can be placed along the elongatedmember, and the curlers can be axially compressed. The elongated membercan then be pivoted downwardly to dispose the curlers within the box. Aplurality of axially compressed curlers 30 is shown in FIG. 4, mountedon the elongated member 20. The end curler 30a has one end thereofdisposed over the elongated member 20, and the other end thereofextending outwardly of the free end of the elongated member. 'I'he outerend of curler 30a, i.e. said other end, is disposed under the lip 22.Due to the compressed condition of the curlers, the outer end of curler30a is urged into engagement with the box end 17, and the lip 22prevents pivoting of the elongated member 20, so that the curlers 30 aresecured within the box. When it is de- Sired to remove the curlers, thecurlers can be axially compressed to move the outer end of curler 30a sothat it clears the lip 22, and the elongated member 20 with the curlersthereon can then be pivoted so that the curlers I are lifted out of thebox.

Instead of the lip 22, any suitable catch means can be employed. Suchmeans can be for engagement of the outer end of the curler 30a to securethe elongated member with the curlers mounted thereon against pivotingon the base member. Such catch means is further for disengagement withthe outer end of the curler 30a, by axially compression of the curlers,permitting pivoting of the elongated member on its pivot mounting. Thecatch means can be, for example, a hook secured to the bottom of the boxto releasably engage the outer end of curler 30a. Alternatively, the boxcan be provided with a movable top which secures the curlers in place.

An enlarged view of the elongated member is shown in FIG. 5. This memberis a U-shaped element 32 having inturned ends 33, which can be pivotallymounted in a container or holder for the curlers. Preferably, the 'widthw of the U-shaped member is substantially equal to the inside diameterof the hair curlers. This assures a good tit of the curlers -on theelongated member with the curlers held coaxial with the elongatedmember.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the box end 18 is joined to the box end 17by the bottom 19 of the box, so that these elements, the ends and thebottom of the box, form a channel shaped structure, with the end 18being one of the channel flanges, and the end 17 being the other channelflange.

If desired, the box can be provided with a cover.

Any number of elongated members can be used. If desired, but a singleelongated member can be used. For a set of curlers including from about-15 members, it has been found that the use of two elongated members isdesirable. There is some tendency for the curlers to spring olf theelongated member during removal, and by limiting the number of curlerson an elongated member, inconvenience occasioned by the springing off ofcu-rlers can be reduced or avoided. From 4-7 on an elongated member ispreferred.

The size of the curlers, in uncompressed condition, can be from 1/2 to 2in diameter, usually l" to 1%" in diameter, and the length can be l to3", usually 11/2 to 21/2. The coil springs can be formed of any suitablemetal.

The netting 28 over the coil spring can be formed of plastic treads. Itis surprising that though the inturned ends 29 are free within thespring, palcement and removal of the curlers does not cause anysignificant displacement of the free ends of the netting.

If desired7 in marketing, the combination of the curlers and clip orybox can be sold together but with the curlers not held in compressedcondition. This may be in order, depending on the characteristics of theaxially compressible member, e.g. the characteristics of a particularcoil spring, to insure against a permanent deformation of the materialas would reduce the extent to which the compressible member elongatesupon release from the compressed condition.

While the invention has been described with respect to particularembodiments thereof, these embodiments are merely representative, and donot serve to set forth the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination axially compressible hair curlers and a holdertherefor:

(a) said holder comprising:

(1) a channel shaped structure, one channel flange forming a ybasemember, the other channel flange forming a top member, the channel bodyportion integrally joining the base member and the top member;

(2) an elongated member pivotally mounted on the base member formovement between a rst position in which the free end of the elongatedmember is disposed outwardly of the channel structure for receiving andremoval of hair curlers and a second position in which the elongatedmember is disposed within the channel structure for storage of haircurlers disposed on the elongated member with the base member and thetop member retaining the curlers on the elongated member.

(b) a plurality of haid curlers disposed on the elongated member withthe elongated member in said second position; said curlers being held inaxially 4. compressed condition by said base member and said top member;

(c) the free end of the channel flange forming the top member comprisesa lip extending toward the channel flange forming the base member, saidlip terminating short of the arc of the elongated member upon pivotingthereof on said pivot mounting on the base member,

(d) said axially compressed hair curlers including an axially compressedcurler disposed with one end thereof over the free end of the elongatedmember and the other end thereof beneath said lip.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the hair curlers are coil springscovered with netting.

3. Combination according to claim 2, said elongated member beingU-shaped with its free ends pivot mounted to provide said pivotmounting, the width of the elongated member being about equal to thediameter of the curlers.

4. Combination according to claim 3, said netting including inturnedends disposed within the coil springs.

5. In combination axially compressible hair curlers and a holdertherefor:

(a) said holder comprising:

(l) a channel shaped structure, one channel flange forming a basemember, the other channel flange forming a top member, the channel bodyporti-on integrally joining the base member and the top member;

(2) an elongated member pivotally mounted on the base member formovement between a first position in which the free end of the elongatedmember is disposed outwardly of the channel structure for receiving andremoval of hair curlers and a second position in which the elongatedmember is disposed within the channel structure for storage of haircurlers disposed on the elongated member with the base member and thetop member retaining the curlers on the elongated member.

(b) a plurality of hair curlers disposed on the elongated member with.the elongated member in said second position; said curlers being held inaxially compressed condition -by said base member and said top member;

(c) said axially compressed hair curlers including an axially compressedcurler disposed with one end thereof over the free end of the elongatedmember and the other end thereof extending axially outwardly ofthe freeend of the elongated member,

(d) and catch means for engagement with said other end of the lastmentioned curler securing the elongated member with curlers mountedthereon against pivoting on the base member, and dis-engagement withsaid other end of the last mentioned curler by further axial compressionof the curlers, permitting pivoting of the elongated member on its pivotmountmg.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein the hair curlers are coil springscovered with netting.

7. Combination according to claim 6, said elongated member `beingU-shaped with its free ends pivot mounted to provide said pivotmounting, the width of the elongated member being about equal to thediameter of the curlers.

8. Combination according to claim 7, said netting including inturnedfree ends disposed within the coil springs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 486,640 11/1892 Gingras 211-59683,998 10/1901 Seidl 211-59 1,590,172 6/1926 Thorberg 206-37 (Otherreferences on following page) 6 Loomis 206-46 Smith 206-65 Silver 132-39Dow 206-1 5 WILLIAM T. DIXsoN, JR., Primary Examiner 5 UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,053,384 5/1932 Mulrey 20e-16 313951790 1/1943 Price 20s-461417760 2/1943 siegel 20a- 56 3,42%424 3/1952 Brown 312-200 12/1952Stanton 206-65 1/1953 Ewing 206-4 2/1961 Dunlap 20s- 65 211 59 3/1962Herzog 206-65 3/ 1962 Herzog 206-65 10 U.S. Cl. X.R.

